Can You Contribute to a 401k and an IRA in the Same Year?

Taking advantage of a retirement plan at work and an IRA is a smart way to cut taxes and save more money for the future. But having multiple accounts can change the rules. Laura answers a listener question and explains how to avoid pitfalls so you leverage multiple accounts to reach your retirement goals.

Taking advantage of more than one retirement account in the same year allows you to cut taxes and save more money for the future. But in some cases, having an extra retirement account changes the rules and the tax benefits you receive.

In this post, I’ll answer a listener question about contributing to a 401k and an IRA in the same year. You’ll learn the rules for contributing to these accounts simultaneously and pitfalls to avoid so they help you reach your retirement goals.

A podcast listener named Justin says, “I already maxed out my 401(k) for 2017 and after receiving a small inheritance, I now have more money to invest for retirement. Can I also max out an IRA—and if so, would the contribution also be tax-deductible?”

Justin, this is a common question that comes with a slightly complicated answer that I’ll unpack in this post. The good news is that you can always max out a retirement plan at work (like a 401k, 403b, or 457 plan) and still max out an IRA for the same tax year.

For 2017, workplace plans allow you to contribute up to $18,000 or up to $24,000 if you’re 50 or older. If you meet those limits and still have cash to spare, socking even more into an IRA is a wise move.

The IRA contribution limits for 2017 are $5,500 for either a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or a combination of both. And if you’re 50 or older, you can contribute an additional $1,000, for a total of $6,500 each year. There are no income limits that prevent you from making contributions to a traditional IRA.

But there’s a tax issue that can trip you up if you’re not aware of it. The bad news is that if you, or a spouse, participate in a retirement plan at work (no matter how much you contribute), the tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions may be reduced or eliminated, depending on your income.

The bad news is that if you, or a spouse, participate in a retirement plan at work (no matter how much you contribute), the tax deduction for traditional IRA contributions may be reduced or eliminated, depending on your income.

What Are Deductible and Non-Deductible Retirement Account Contributions?

First, a quick refresher on the distinction between deductible and non-deductible contributions. Then I’ll review the income thresholds that limit the deductibility of your traditional IRA contributions when you or a spouse also have a workplace retirement plan.

With a traditional retirement account, like a regular 401k or a traditional IRA, you make pre-tax contributions from your paycheck, or you claim them as a deduction on your tax return. These deductible contributions reduce your taxable income and therefore cut the amount of tax you must pay in the year you make them.

In contrast, contributions to a Roth retirement account, such as a Roth 401k or Roth IRA, are always non-deductible because you fund them on an after-tax basis. In other words, you pay tax upfront on Roth contributions and don’t get to claim them as a deduction on your tax return.

Because Roth IRA contributions are not deductible, there’s never a conflict with having one in addition to a workplace account. They complement a retirement plan at work very well.

Problem is, there’s a catch with a Roth IRA for high earners. If you make over a certain amount of income, you’re not allowed to make Roth IRA contributions that year. I’ll cover the income thresholds that lock you out of a Roth IRA in just a moment.

Deducting Traditional IRA Contributions With a Retirement Plan at Work

Getting back to Justin’s question, the deductibility of contributions to a traditional IRA, when you also have a workplace plan, depend on these modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) limits for 2017:

Single taxpayers get a partial deduction when MAGI is between $62,000 and $72,000, but no deduction at or above $72,000.

Married taxpayers who file a joint return get a partial deduction when household MAGI is between $99,000 and $119,000, but no deduction at or above $119,000.

Married taxpayers who file separate returns get a partial deduction when MAGI is less than $10,000 and no deduction at or above $10,000.

So, if Justin is single with income less than about $62,000, he could get a full deduction for his traditional IRA contributions. But if he earns more than $72,000, he’s out of luck. And if Justin is a married guy who files taxes with a spouse, he is unable to claim a deduction if their household income tops $119,000.

If your income is below these thresholds and you want an additional tax deduction for the year, then contributing to a traditional IRA, in addition to your workplace retirement plan is the perfect option.